The imperial landscape of Ashur: settlement and land use in the Assyrian heartland

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The Assyrian capitals of Nineveh, Nimrud, Khorsabad, and Ashur were pivotal to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, with substantial investments made by the state in these cities. The surrounding landscape underwent significant transformation due to policies and actions from both individuals and the state. However, much of the region around these capitals remains underexplored in historical and archaeological studies. Mark Altaweel examines the anthropogenic changes in the landscape using remote sensing technologies. His research utilizes satellite data, including CORONA, ASTER, and elevation data, to identify and analyze archaeological sites, hollow ways, and irrigation features. By studying these features collectively, Altaweel reconstructs the archaeological landscape and investigates their relationship with the physical environment through coupled agent-based social and mathematical ecological models. This socio-ecological modeling approach offers more rigorous estimates regarding the impact of archaeological features on landscape dynamics compared to traditional methods. The findings reveal that the Neo-Assyrian central region was distinct from other areas and contemporary landscapes. This innovative combination of remote sensing and socio-ecological modeling represents a novel contribution to Near Eastern archaeology, providing valuable data for future studies and serving as a model for analyzing other empires with similar political